SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

230 Beowulf, Swedes and Geats
or evaluate the 'historicity' of the poem, but rather to
study its internal consistency in terms of the art of writing
heroic history. What is primarily important is the
structure which the Beowulf poet created from the facts,
myths and high ideals which he knew in connection with
certain north Germanic tribes, the noble ancestors
(physical or spiritual) of his own race. Much can be
learned about the background and context of the poem
through other literary sources, through historical writings,
and through archaeology; but such evidence will be used
here to fill the outlines as they are laid down by the poet's
account of an heroic life. I propose first to discuss the
passages in the poem which appear to me to be 'pro­
Swedish', for want of a better term. A discussion of
Beowulf's connections with the various royal houses of
Scandinavia follows. The historical background of
Scandinavia in the period before the Viking Age is then
treated. Finally, the relationship of Beowulf to Sutton
Roo is discussed. With these perspectives in mind, we can
begin with an examination of the passage dealing with
Beowulf's coming to kingship, supposedly a clear indication
of the hostile nature of the contacts between Swede
and Geat.